Sidewalk repairs nearing approval

Wednesday

Aug 7, 2013 at 9:41 AM

By Matt Durrmdurr@hillsdale.net

HILLSDALE — A public hearing was held Monday night during the Hillsdale City Council meeting to allow residents to express their feelings on the special assessment districts which have sought to replace the sidewalks on three streets in the city and to allow for council to receive the certifications of the rolls and review them prior to a final hearing.

In July the Board of Special Assessors prepared the rolls for the purposed special assessment districts as directed by council resolution 3144 which was passed at the July 15 city council meeting.

During the public hearing two residents voice their thoughts on the assessment. Bill Barron was present and represented the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsdale, which was very supportive of the idea.

"For us this is a very very fair price and we're very much in favor of it and we would like to be first on the list," Barron said.

Another resident who owns property in Charles Street said he did not approve of the assessment as he has already replaced the sidewalk in front of his property and did not think he needed to pay to do so again.

"I can see no reason for them to be taken out and new ones put in and I should have to pay more to have that done," the man said. "I don't feel like I should to pay twice, I've paid once."

City Public Services Director Keith Richard assured council and the property owner that he knew which lot was in questions and the property owners portion of the sidewalk was in better shape than the others and whatever work is done to the sidewalk will by paid for by the city

In total, the city will be responsible for 25 percent of the project and the residents who approved the assessment will pay the city back in 10 annual installments at a rate of six percent. The project will affect the sidewalks on Lynnwood Boulevard, North Manning Street and Charles Street.

Council eventually voted to accept the assessment rolls and scheduled a final public hearing for Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.